Agression problems.

[oskins]

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Hi, I'm a 'newby' to this site and hoping someone can help.About 3 months ago we took on a dog from a friend of a friend.She couldn't cope with his agression problems and was talking about having him put down.He's a lovely intelligent dog but has had a hard life.He was born in Quatar as a feral dog when the previous owner took him on as a puppy.She then moved back to the UK and so he had to spend a month in Quarantine.He's aggressive to other dogs.I know this is mostly down to fear.I've been socialising him with loads of other dogs.He comes to work with me and runs around 'free range', he's never far away and seems well bonded with me.The problem I have is this; He seems to have a problem with females and my partner in particular.A lot of the time ,when she strokes him and makes a fuss of him he growls and bares his teeth at her. If she stops stroking he then licks her hand to make her carry on.This can happen when he appears totally relaxed and lying on his back in a submissive posture.My first reaction,rightly or wrongly, was to get her to give him a slap with a rolled up newspaper to show him who's top dog.She hasn't done this but he seems to be getting worse.Any Ideas as I'm puzzled .

Any help much appreciated.

 

[JoanneF]

First, forget the top dog stuff. That theory is well disproved. Second, I suggest a vet check - it's possible your partner is touching a sore spot. You don't know his background so he may have been mistreated by females. Never ignore a growl. it's your dog sayng please stop this. If you ignore that signal he may feel compelled to up his communication to the next level - a bite - because you didn't listen to him. And in future he might bypass the growl because it doesn't work anyway and go straight to bite. Your partner should stop stroking him until he comes to her for affection. That may take ages or perhaps never happen.

With other dogs, dogs have a sort of tolerance radius. Outside that distance, another dog is far enough for him to feel safe. One foot closer and he is anxious so he has to appear aggressive to frighten the other dog so it doesn't approach. Find out what that distance is and at the edge of it, get his attention, reward him for not reacting, do training. Gradually you can work on reducing the distance. The distance may change according to circumstances - bigger dog, greater distance. Your dog already anxious, bigger distance. Etc.

 

[lurcherman]

Agree with two points Joanna said, never think a growl is for nothink so be careful and yes wait for dog to come to your friend, but I differ on top dog, I'm the top dog in my house and if they didn't respect that then my two who are close to 14 would have been shipped to another life as I've no respect to aggression .

 

[JoanneF]

Our dogs look to us for guidance and leadership and it is certainly true that we make most of the decisions that affect them. Perhaps we are disagreeing over semantics; what I mean is that we don't need to use forceful domination methods. Reward for good behaviour has consistently been shown to be more effective than punishment for "bad" behaviour - unwanted behaviour - dogs don't have the concept of good and bad like we do.

https://positively.com/dog-training/myths-truths/pack-theory-debunked/

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_12/features/Alpha-Dogs_20416-1.html

http://www.apbc.org.uk/articles/why-wont-dominance-die

 

[lurcherman]

Your dog so your choice same as with me, I've dealt with my dog as soon as any aggression is shown with so far great results so horses for courses I suppose, the brindle in my avatar tried me once and 3 mins later it was over and never had that problem with him ever again, I do what I think is right at the time is all I'm saying..

 

[gypsysmum2]

Aggression is almost always based on fear. I, too, have a street dog and he was more afraid of me than he was my husband. Who knows why? It is just a fact. Your partner just needs to change your dogs mind. Although he seems to be inviting a belly rub he may be submitting and asking to be left alone. It is always much safer to ask a dog to come to you for attention. Encroaching on his space may be making him nervous and he is in conflict over wanting the attention and, at the same time, being afraid of being vulnerable to attack.

Dogs that feel trapped in any way become much more defensive. A dog on a lead feels trapped. A dog in a house feels trapped. A dog on its back feels trapped. Only gaining experience and confidence in these situations will, in time, change a dog's mind. Even then it will come over them every now and then when you think it has gone away. It is why socialising puppies is so important. The brain is receptive during the critical time between birth and 12/14 weeks of age. After then it is very difficult to persuade a dog to accept new things.

Only time and patience will prevail. If you get aggressive with him it will confirm his fears that you are not to be trusted.

 

[lurcherman]

I really do think the dog nation read or think to much on matters, I will repeat I'm hard but fair with my dogs if needed, you only have to see me with my dogs and you'd see they love me and want to be by my side and trust me, so for me it's a instinct thing really, if I see a problem I act on the spot and for over 36 years of owning my own dogs I've never had a aggressive one so works with me to be top dog, have I ever read books on dogs behaviour ? No cus owning a dog should come natural, until the day I get a dog that dosnt respond to my way of training then I'm not going down the route of months on end of training to get the dog thinking all sorts , only my opinion.

 

[oskins]

Thanks for your thoughts guys, there's no doubt he was mistreated by his previous owner. I can feel what I think is a fully healed broken rib where he's had a kicking.To clarify,he goes to my partner for attention and then growls when she strokes him.If she stops he then licks her hand until she strokes him again. He definately has no sore spots as there's no reaction when I stroke him. I guess he's understandably wary of women and it will take time to realise that my other half is not a threat. We'll keep rewarding him for good behaviour as he's had enough violence in his life.

 

[gypsysmum2]

Well done on choosing the modern way of dealing with dog behaviour

We used to send children up chimneys years ago, fortunately we know better now.

Your dog may never forget the mistreatment that he has had. You will think that he is fine and then it comes over him sometimes as a memory resurfaces. All you can do is be patient and keep reinforcing the good, brave behaviour with treats and attention. Ignore the fearful behaviour. In time the bad memories will be pushed aside by the better ones.

 

[JoanneF]

If he approaces your partner then growls when she strokes him, has she tried putting her hand close to him and letting him make the contact?

 

[oskins]

Not sure,we'll give it a try. Thanks again.

 

[Raven oaktree]

Why don't you try letting your partner be the only one to give him treats ..let him see that hands bring good things not beatings .

We had a Romanian rescue that had been beaten and for the first 6or so weeks didn't feed him from a bowl . We hand fed him everything ..the one he was most nervous of (my hubby) gave him most of the food and treats. . Maybe you are mis reading him too ..maybe he is using the licking as an appeasement behaviour? .maybe he wants affection but on his terms. Never tell a dog off for growling . That growling is a very important tool in their communication skills to let you know they are uncomfortable with what is going on around him . If I were your partner ..I would have lots of high value treats (tiny pieces) every time the dog comes over give him a treat but don't stroke him ..work up to the occasional light and quick stroke but don't flood him or overwhelm him . Obviously if he isn't enjoying it then it's not in his best interests ..build up slowly , let him see that hands bring nice things , let you partner be responsible for all the food and he will get there eventually.

 

[oskins]

Thanks for the thoughts.My partner does feed him a lot of the time,but perhaps we'll make it all the time. Thanks again.

 

[RebeccaTCM]

I have the same problem with my terrier cross. I can do pretty much anything to him but he frequently snaps at my husband.

 

[JoanneF]

Do you know his background? Has he perhaps been mistreated? Never ignore a growl, it's your dogs way of communicating fear and anxiety. If your husband (or indeed anyone else) has ignored a growl in the past, your dog may have worked out that his growl isn't working and go straight to the snap or bite. As others suggest, every time your husband is close he could drop a high value treat. When the dog is accustomed to that he could offer the treat and let the dog approach him under his own terms. If the dog continues to growl your husband should give the dog more space and take things slower. The last thing you need is for your dog to feel threatened enough to bite. Your husband should also be aware of his body language, dogs are very adept at reading threatening signals so your husband should avoid staring, approaching too fast, looming over the dog etc.

Also this might be of interest http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/06/06/dog-growling.aspx?utm_source=petsnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20160606Z1&et_cid=DM107503&et_rid=1515249143

 

[patco]

Here is another article about dog aggression that might be useful.